The (Other) You: Stories

What can one say about the genius, incredible, and anxiety-producing writing of Joyce Carol Oates? She manages to write prolifically, yet masterfully. The phantasmagoria of her scenes creates visceral suspense in her readers. Many times I have vowed not to read her next story, but is like disavowing chocolate; it is delicious.

A thread that runs through is collection of stories is the bombing by a lonely teen, of the Purple Onion, a vegan restaurant. In her masterful way, she spins the story slightly or greatly different in a number of scenarios leaving the reader to puzzle what happened, why, and who X is. Clearly, the writer is taken with this scene and uses it as a jumping-off point for different characters including a stand-in for the author herself, albeit male. There is also a story in a home on the Hudson River in which a fragile unseen violinist transcends her narrow world to dare to take center stage. Such is the author’s craft that we are nervous along with the character.

The title story explores alternative realities, as well. Welcome to the author’s world. It is always mesmerizing.